Thunder Road International Speedbowl, more commonly known as just Thunder Road, is a .25-mile (0.40 km) high-banked, paved short track speedway located in the town of Barre, Vermont. The track was founded by Ken Squier in 1960.[1] and sold by Squier and co-owner Tom Curley in the spring of 2017 to former Thunder Road track champion Cris Michaud and local businessman Pat Malone.[2][3] Currently, Thunder Road hosts three weekly divisions: Late Models, Flying Tigers, and Street Stocks.[1] The track is known for hosting its weekly races on Thursday night.[4] As of April 2020, it was one of three active race tracks in Vermont.[1]
Ken Squier envisioned the need for an asphalt track in the area which had been full of dirt tracks.[1] He worked with pavement contractor Reginald Cooley to build the track.[1] Squier operated the track until selling to local businessman Tommy Kalomiris.[1] Kalomiris operated the track for two years; he faced lawsuits in 1978 and the track only ran six events that year.[1] Squier bought the track back in 1979 along with Tom Curley.[1] After running four events in 1981, the duo was forced to shut the track down again due to a lawsuit.[1] They regained control by 1982 and operated it until April 2017.[1] They sold the track to former track champion Cris Michaud and real estate developer Pat Malone.[1]
In the past, Thunder Road had hosted 22 races of NASCAR North Tour between 1979 and 1985.[6] Winners include Chuck Bown, Robbie Crouch, Randy Lajoie, and Kevin Lepage.[6] After the formation of the American-Canadian Tour in 1986, Thunder Road became sanctioned by the organization as well as host to nearly 150 ACT races between the Pro Stock, Late Model and Flying Tiger tours as of September, 2021. ACT winners include Jean-Paul Cyr, Brian Hoar and Phil Scott.[6] It hosted 7 races of the NASCAR Busch North Series, a feeder series of NASCAR, between 1997 and 2003.[6]
Currently, the track hosts regional touring series including the American Canadian Tour, the Pro All Stars Series and the New England Antique Racers. The track has hosted several high profile drivers from the highest level of NASCAR. On June 28, 2007, NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace raced at Thunder Road.[7]Ken Schrader, another NASCAR driver, had raced once at Thunder Road each of the two years prior to Wallace's visit. In 2009, Tony Stewart made an appearance at the track.[8]Clint Bowyer has raced in the track in 2013.[9]Kyle Busch raced in Vermont in 2017.[10] The next year in 2018, Christopher Bell raced at the highbanks.[11] And most recently, Ryan Preece has visited in 2021.[12] All these drivers making an appearance in the Vermont Governor's Cup, which is run on a Thursday night, which coincides with NASCARs visit to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway over the weekend. Phil Scott, current governor of Vermont, is a former track champion in 1996, 1998, and 2002.[4]
Milk Bowledit
Thunder Road has hosted the "Milk Bowl" Late Model race since 1962.[1] It is the season finale each fall, and consists of three 50-lap segments, with cumulative scoring and full-field inversions between segments.[13] The driver with the highest combined total of finishes in the three segments is declared the winner, receives a loving cup full of milk as the trophy, and is expected to kiss a cow in Victory Circle.[1]
Past track champions (King of the Road)edit
The title of King of the Road is given to the highest points winner of the top weekly division at Thunder Road. While the other divisions have their respective champions, King of the Road is the most coveted title at Thunder Road. There have been fifty-five Kings of the Road; the one female driver who won the track championship, Tracie Bellerose, was christened the 2000 Queen of the Road. Vermont's governor since 2017, Phil Scott, is a longtime participant in Thunder Road's Late Model series, and is a three-time King of the Road (1996, 1998, 2002).
thunder, road, international, speedbowl, thunder, road, international, speedbowl, more, commonly, known, just, thunder, road, mile, high, banked, paved, short, track, speedway, located, town, barre, vermont, track, founded, squier, 1960, sold, squier, owner, c. Thunder Road International Speedbowl more commonly known as just Thunder Road is a 25 mile 0 40 km high banked paved short track speedway located in the town of Barre Vermont The track was founded by Ken Squier in 1960 1 and sold by Squier and co owner Tom Curley in the spring of 2017 to former Thunder Road track champion Cris Michaud and local businessman Pat Malone 2 3 Currently Thunder Road hosts three weekly divisions Late Models Flying Tigers and Street Stocks 1 The track is known for hosting its weekly races on Thursday night 4 As of April 2020 it was one of three active race tracks in Vermont 1 Thunder Road International SpeedbowlThunder Road Nation s Site of Excitement Location80 Fisher Rd Barre Vermont 05641 1 Capacity8 000OwnerCris Michaud and Pat MaloneOpenedJune 30 1960 1 Major eventsCommunity Bank 150 Memorial Day Classic 1 Vermont Governor s Cup 1 Labor Day Classic 1 Vermont Milk Bowl 1 The Toughest Short Track Stock Car Race in North America Websitewww wbr thunderroadspeedbowl wbr comOvalSurfaceAsphaltLength0 25 miles 0 40 km Turns4Banking18 Official site Contents 1 History 2 Touring Series 3 Milk Bowl 4 Past track champions King of the Road 5 Sources 6 External linksHistory editKen Squier envisioned the need for an asphalt track in the area which had been full of dirt tracks 1 He worked with pavement contractor Reginald Cooley to build the track 1 Squier operated the track until selling to local businessman Tommy Kalomiris 1 Kalomiris operated the track for two years he faced lawsuits in 1978 and the track only ran six events that year 1 Squier bought the track back in 1979 along with Tom Curley 1 After running four events in 1981 the duo was forced to shut the track down again due to a lawsuit 1 They regained control by 1982 and operated it until April 2017 1 They sold the track to former track champion Cris Michaud and real estate developer Pat Malone 1 In 2009 as part of its 50th Season in operation Thunder Road was visited by NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Bobby Allison citation needed Current NASCAR drivers Tony Stewart Clint Bowyer and David Ragan raced there at different events during the season as well citation needed The track was scheduled to host the second event of the 2023 Superstar Racing Experience season on July 20 2023 but the event was moved to Stafford Motor Speedway the site of the first event of the season due to the 2023 Vermont floods with the track being awarded an SRX race in 2024 as a compromise 5 Touring Series editIn the past Thunder Road had hosted 22 races of NASCAR North Tour between 1979 and 1985 6 Winners include Chuck Bown Robbie Crouch Randy Lajoie and Kevin Lepage 6 After the formation of the American Canadian Tour in 1986 Thunder Road became sanctioned by the organization as well as host to nearly 150 ACT races between the Pro Stock Late Model and Flying Tiger tours as of September 2021 ACT winners include Jean Paul Cyr Brian Hoar and Phil Scott 6 It hosted 7 races of the NASCAR Busch North Series a feeder series of NASCAR between 1997 and 2003 6 Currently the track hosts regional touring series including the American Canadian Tour the Pro All Stars Series and the New England Antique Racers The track has hosted several high profile drivers from the highest level of NASCAR On June 28 2007 NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace raced at Thunder Road 7 Ken Schrader another NASCAR driver had raced once at Thunder Road each of the two years prior to Wallace s visit In 2009 Tony Stewart made an appearance at the track 8 Clint Bowyer has raced in the track in 2013 9 Kyle Busch raced in Vermont in 2017 10 The next year in 2018 Christopher Bell raced at the highbanks 11 And most recently Ryan Preece has visited in 2021 12 All these drivers making an appearance in the Vermont Governor s Cup which is run on a Thursday night which coincides with NASCARs visit to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway over the weekend Phil Scott current governor of Vermont is a former track champion in 1996 1998 and 2002 4 Milk Bowl editThunder Road has hosted the Milk Bowl Late Model race since 1962 1 It is the season finale each fall and consists of three 50 lap segments with cumulative scoring and full field inversions between segments 13 The driver with the highest combined total of finishes in the three segments is declared the winner receives a loving cup full of milk as the trophy and is expected to kiss a cow in Victory Circle 1 Past track champions King of the Road editThe title of King of the Road is given to the highest points winner of the top weekly division at Thunder Road While the other divisions have their respective champions King of the Road is the most coveted title at Thunder Road There have been fifty five Kings of the Road the one female driver who won the track championship Tracie Bellerose was christened the 2000 Queen of the Road Vermont s governor since 2017 Phil Scott is a longtime participant in Thunder Road s Late Model series and is a three time King of the Road 1996 1998 2002 Year Driver Hometown Division1960 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem NH Sportsman Coupe1961 Roy Pappy Forsythe Keene NH Sportsman Coupe1962 Lee Ingerson Jefferson NH Sportsman Coupe1963 Lee Ingerson Jefferson NH Sportsman Coupe1964 Harold Hardluck Hanaford Plymouth NH Sportsman Coupe1965 Harold Hardluck Hanaford Plymouth NH Sportsman Coupe1966 Larry Demar Harwick VT Flying Tiger1967 Larry Demar Harwick VT Flying Tiger1968 Tom Tiller Essex Jct VT Flying Tiger1969 Clement Desperate Despault Waterbury VT Flying Tiger1970 Bobby Giroux South Burlington VT Limited Sportsman1971 Jean Paul Cabana Sherrington QC Late Model Sportsman1972 Bobby Giroux South Burlington VT Late Model Sportsman1973 Bobby Dragon Milton VT Late Model Sportsman1974 Joey Kourafas Sharon MA Late Model Sportsman1975 Dave Dion Hudson NH Late Model Sportsman1976 Bobby Dragon Milton VT Late Model Sportsman1977 Dave Dion Hudson VT Late Model Sportsman1978 Stanley Stub Fadden North Haverhill NH Late Model Sportsman1979 Stanley Stub Fadden North Haverhill NH Late Model Sportsman1980 Jean Paul Cabana Sherrington QC Late Model Sportsman1981 Track Closed 1982 Joey Laquerre East Montpelier VT Flying Tiger1983 Clement Desperate Despault Waterbury VT Flying Tiger1984 Larry Caron Williston VT Flying Tiger1985 Chuck Beede Williamstown VT Flying Tiger1986 Norm Andrews Northfield VT Flying Tiger1987 Dan Beede Williamstown VT Flying Tiger1988 Ron Lamell Jr Essex Jct VT Flying Tiger1989 Greg Burger Blake East Barre VT Flying Tiger1990 Joey Laquerre Jr East Montpelier VT Flying Tiger1991 Dwayne Lanphear Morrisville VT Flying Tiger1992 Chuck Beede Williamstown VT Late Model1993 Chuck Beede Williamstown VT Late Model1994 Chuck Beede Williamstown VT Late Model1995 Dave Whitcomb Essex Jct VT Late Model1996 Phil Scott Middlesex VT Late Model1997 Pete Fecteau Morrisville VT Late Model1998 Phil Scott Middlesex VT Late Model1999 Brian Hoar Williston VT Late Model2000 Tracie Bellerose Gorham NH Late Model2001 Cris Michaud Northfield VT Late Model2002 Phil Scott Middlesex VT Late Model2003 Jamie Fisher Shelburne VT Late Model2004 Cris Michaud Williamstown VT Late Model2005 Cris Michaud Williamstown VT Late Model2006 Chad Wheeler Waterbury Ctr VT Late Model2007 Dave Pembroke Montpelier VT Late Model2008 Eric Williams Hyde Park VT Late Model2009 Jean Paul Cyr Milton VT Late Model2010 Nick Sweet Barre VT Late Model2011 Dave Pembroke Montpelier VT Late Model2012 Nick Sweet Barre VT Late Model2013 Derrick O Donnell North Haverhill NH Late Model2014 Derrick O Donnell North Haverhill NH Late Model2015 Derrick O Donnell North Haverhill NH Late Model2016 Scott Dragon Milton VT Late Model2017 Bobby Therrien Hinesburg VT Late Model2018 Scott Dragon Milton VT Late Model2019 Jason Corliss Barre VT Late Model2020 Jason Corliss Barre VT Late Model2021 Jason Corliss Barre VT Late Model2022 Christopher Pelkey Graniteville VT Late ModelSources edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Fenwick Adam April 12 2020 Track Of The Day Thunder Road Int l Speedbowl Speed Sport Retrieved May 2 2021 Pair buy Thunder Road Times Argus April 19 2017 Retrieved March 13 2018 THUNDER ROAD www catamountstadium com Retrieved March 13 2018 a b Phil Scott scores wire to wire victory Barre Montpelier Vt Times Argus June 14 2010 Archived from the original on June 17 2010 Retrieved June 14 2010 SRX Cancels Thunder Road Visit Awards 2024 Date Speed Sport July 13 2023 Retrieved July 13 2023 a b c d Tracks Thunder Road International Speedbowl Racing Reference Retrieved May 2 2021 Times Argus Online TONY STEWART COMES TO THUNDER ROAD IN 09 STEWART TO RACE IN VERMONT GOVERNOR S CUP 150 New England Racing NASCAR s Clint Bowyer Set to Tackle Thunder Road the White River Valley Herald July 4 2013 Gallison Tina July 3 2017 Kyle Busch to Race in Vermont Governor s Cup at Thunder Road Thunder Road Speedbowl Locals Prepared to Defend Governor s Cup Against NASCAR s Bell Ryan Preece to Enter Vermont Governor s Cup at Thunder Road Fitzsimmons Jack October 5 2020 Corliss Wins 58th Vermont Milk Bowl WCAX Retrieved May 2 2021 External links editOfficial site Thunder Road International SpeedBowl archive at Racing Reference44 10 47 26 N 72 29 16 63 W 44 1797944 N 72 4879528 W 44 1797944 72 4879528 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thunder Road International SpeedBowl amp oldid 1166407411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,